Short Summary

Rhodesian police have imposed severe security measures on movements throughout the country in the wake of recent rioting during which 14 Africans died.

Description

Rhodesian police have imposed severe security measures on movements throughout the country in the wake of recent rioting during which 14 Africans died. The riots -- throughout most of Rhodesia's major towns and cities -- came during an investigation by a British team, the Pearce Commission, to decide whether the proposed Anglo-Rhodesian independence settlement would be acceptable to the whole of the country's population. An uneasy calm had been achieved by security measures when this film was shot on Saturday (January 22) but reports from Salisbury, the Rhodesian capital, said that the future of the British team's investigations, and the proposed settlement, appeared to be in jeopardy as a major political row followed the Rhodesian Government's handling of the issue.

SYNOPSIS: The renewed security precautions -- like the police checkpoints on roads to Sakubva Township near Umtali where eight Africans were shot dead by police -- had achieved an uneasy calm by Saturday, when this film was shot. But there was no calm on the political scene -- for a major row was brewing over the Rhodesian Government's handling of the situation. In particular, the detention of several political leaders, both black and white, came under severe criticism both in Britain and Rhodesia. Reports from Salisbury said that the future of the Commission, and the future of the entire proposed settlement, were in jeopardy.